Banyana too good for Kenya

Cape Town - Banyana Banyana beat Kenya 1-0 (2-0 on aggregate) in Machakos, Kenya in their Rio Olympic qualifier on Sunday.

A first half goal by substitute Rhoda Mulaudzi handed Vera Pauw’s side the all-important victory.

Mulaudzi became the unlikely hero considering she wasn’t in the starting line-up when Lebo Ramalepe had to be replaced early on after going down injured.

However Mulaudzi proved to be a capable replacement when she scored a great individual goal in the 25th minute to give Banyana the advantage.

That meant that Kenya would have had to score three goals to overturn South Africa’s aggregate lead.

Kenya proved to be a tough opponent, and while Sanah Mollo and Mulaudzi did have a few opportunities to increase the lead, the home side gave South Africa a tough game.

Goalkeeper Roxanne Barker had to be her best to stop an attempt just after the hour mark.

The second half saw the Kenyan put pressure on the visitors, but Banyana’s defence, led by skipper Janine Van Wyk, were up to the task.

In the final qualifying round South Africa will face Equatorial Guinea who beat Nigeria 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate) later in the day.